Machine for securing buttons to work



June 27, 1933. R. LYCJNS 1,915,829

MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONS TO WORK Filed Mar ch 30, 19 29 8 Sheets-Sheet l June 27, 1933. LYQNS I MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONSVTO WORK Filed Mafoh so, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 27, 1933. R. L. LYONS 1,915,829

MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONS TO WORK I Filed March 50, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 ZuZwyZLZ. flaw June 27,1933. R, 1., YQNS 1,915,829

MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONS TO WORK Filed March 50. 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 WW MM June 27, 1933. R, 1.. LYONS MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONS TO WORK Filed March 50, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 WZZ June 27, 11%33. R LYQNS 11,915,829

MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONS TO WORK Filpd March so. 1929 a Sheets-Sheet 6 June 27, 1933. R. L LYONS MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONS TO WORK Filed March 30, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 June 27 19330 R, L. LYONS 1,9353% MACHINE FOR SECURING BUTTONS TO WORK Filed March 30, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented June 27, 19338 rra JRQBERT L. LYONS, 01E WALT, MAS$ACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN BUTTON .SEWING MACHINE 00., 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COEPORATIQN 0F MASSA- CHUSETTS MACHINE FOB SECURING BUTTONS TO WORK Application filed Haroh 30, 1929. Serial No. 351,391.

This invention relates to a machine for attaching buttons or the like,more particueach 'of the holes of one pairand then to move the button relative to the sewing instrumentalities to present the other pair of holes to the needle path and then to pass a series of stitches in succession through the holes of this other pair. This shiftingof the button relative to the needle during the stitching results in the laying of the thread from one to the other pair of holes over the exposed face of the button, which impairs the appearance of the face or top of the button after it has been attached. Commonly also the holes of each pair through a button are joined by a surface channel in the front face of the button in which the stitches lie, but this cross thread cannot lie in the channel so that not only is it more noticeable but it is exposed over the more prominent surface portion of the but-ton where it is liable to be cut or 'broken. Moreover, ifthe stitching is done as commonly with a siilgle thread in chain stitch formation, a breaking of the thread at any point is likely to cause raveling of the thread and the freeing of the button.

The present invention has for one object to provide a mechanism by which four hole buttons may be attached-without a cross thread and at a sewing speed for the same speed of the machine at least double that of machines heretofore used. In its preferred form also the machine utilizes a through and through chain stitch, but in such a manner that a break in the thread will not permit the thread to ravel. Further, a more secure anchorage of stitches in the work than heretofore is efiected. For securing the greater sewing speed and for the elimination of the cross thread, two needles are employed, one

stitching through one of a pair of holes in the button, and the other stitching through the other of the pair of holes, both needles operating simultaneously so that any given number of attaching stitches are formed in one-half that number of sewing strokes and n a single sewing operation, and for preventmg the possibility of raveling and to pro duce a secure anchorage in the work as well as to simplify the machine, the threads from both needles are taken by a single looper mechanism whereby they become interengaged and locked together back of the but ton and on the back face of the work. An improved looper mechanism which may find a more general application than to button sewing machines has also been devised, this mechanism being able to operate with threads of a character which cannot be used successfully with the usual loopers heretofore employed.

For a more complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which 1 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the new machine.

Figure 2 is a detail section on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an inverted plan of a portion of the machine.

Figure4 is a view similar to a portion of Figure 3, but showing the looper mechanism in a different position.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectionthrough the forward part of the machine on line 55 of Figure 2.

Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to portions of Figures 3 and 4, but showing other and successive positions of the looper mechanism during the stitching cycle.

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are detail perspectives showing successive relative positions of the sewing instrumentalities during the stitching cycle.

Figures 12 to 17 are somewhat diagrammatic views'showing the manner in which the stitches lie across the button and the work, Figures 12 and 17 showing the butof the work; corresponding respectively to Figures 12 and 17.

Figures 18 and 19 are views similar to Figure 4, but showing a modified construction,

these figures illustrating two difierent positions of the looper mechanism.

Figure 20 is a view similar to a port on of Figure 1, but of the modified construction shown in Figures 18 and 19.

Figures 21 and 22 are button face and back work face views, respectively, where the button is attached by the mechanism shown in Figures 18 to 20.

Figure 23 is a somewhat diagrammatic sectional detail showing the stitch formation effected by this modified mechanism.

lln Figure 1 a conventional form of sewing'machine frame is shown having a work table 1 supporting at its rear end a post 2 having an arm 3 extending forwardly from. its upper end and carrying a head 4: to receive the sewing needle mechanism. A needle bar 5 arranged for vertical reciprocation its lower face and the cloth plate 76. To the forward end of the carrier member 13 is fixed-the cloth plate '76 so that the button clamp and cloth plate move in unison horizontally. The forward end of-the arm 11 may have attached thereto a lifting chain of usual form such as 20 which extends to an arm 21 on a rock shaft 22. This rock shaft may be rocked to raise the button clap to release the work in the usual manner, as, for example, by means of a pull'chain 23 connected to an arm 24 carried by the rock shaft 22, the chain 23 extending to any suitable actuator such as a treadle in accordance wlth usual practice. The button clamp and the clotlnplate are mounted so as to permit them to be moved laterally relative to the work table and to the needles 7 and for this purpose the carrier member 13 is shown as pivoted to the work table at 30, and is connected by means of a suitable pivoted arm 31 with a verticalrock shaft 32 carrying at its lower end a cam arm 33. This carii arm 33 has a follower 34 riding in a suitable cam groove in a cam 35. This mechanism for effecting lateral movement of the button clamp may be in accordance with usual practice where it is desired to oscillatethe button laterally of the work table so as to'bring either hole of a pair in the button into alinement with the needle path. In the present instance,.however, it will be noted that there are two needles 7 which are so spaced that they may pass through two of the holes of the button simultaneously, these needles being spaced longitudinally of the machine and thus at right angles to the direction of movement of the button clamp. Each of these needles 7 has its own sewing thread, such as a and 5, these threads being passed through suitable tension mechanisms as at 40 in a manner usual with two-needle sewing machines. lEach of the needles, therefore, together with its cooperating instrumentalities beneath the work table, passes stitches through two holes of the button and the work,

the rear needle passing stitches through the rear pair of holes of the button and the forward needle passing stitches through the forward pair of holes in the button, simultaneously, the two stitching threads lying in parallel relation on the face of the button. Thus where it is desired to set a given total number of stitches, one-half this number of needle strokes is necessary with the use of the two needles than would be required if a single needle were caused to stitch first through one set of two holes and then through the other set of two holes as in machines heretofore made.

In its preferred form the machine of the present invention utilizes a single 'looper mechanism for both of the sewing needles 7. This not only simplifies the looper mechanism, but it also causes an interlocking of the two threads which effects-a more secure engagement of the button to the work and perwithout the liability of ravelingshould the thread be broken at any point after the stitches have been placed. A looper mechanism capable of cooperating with the threads of both of the sewing needles is therefore illustrated in the drawings and as shown this mechanism includes a latch needle 50 similar to. those commonly employed in knitting machines. Such a needle as herein shown has a hook 51 at its free end and a latch. 52 freely pivoted as at 53 to the needle 50 back of the hook 51, this latch 52 being movable between a closed position where its free end engages the free end of the hook, as is illustrated in Figures 3, 6,7, 14 and 15, and an open position in which this latch extends away from the hook 51 as shown in Figures 4 and 8 to 13. As shown best in Figure 5, the rear end of the latch needle is fixed, as by a set screw 55, in a slide 56 mounted in a suitable longitudinal guideway 57 beneath the -mits the use of single thread chain stitches 7 ing rod 63 as shown in Figure 1. Also fixed the slide 56 is cut away, as at- 80, to permit portion. I

the passage of the thread finger 71, which rides on the upper face of this cut away Assuming now that a button is held by the button clamp superposed on the work in position to be fixed thereto, on the first downward stroke of the needle bar 5 the sewing needles 7 pass through two of the holes of the button at one side of the central longitudinal axis of the machine as shown in Figures 2 and 8 and down through the work W. The cam then causes the latch needle to approach the needle paths as shown in Figure 8 and when the needles 7 have reached the positions there shown, this latch needle has started on its backward stroke so that the hook 51 of the needle engages the two loops of thread a and b, the latch 52 having been opened on the forward stroke of the latch needle by engagement against the beveled edge 90 of a needle plate 92 having slots 93 at its forward end in which the sewing needles 7 pass. The latch needle continues to retract, drawing the thread loops (1 and b therewith and the sewing needles'7 also retract as shown in Figure 9. As the latch needle retracts, the thread finger 71 is moved forwardly, its guide pin 74 riding in the slot 73 until it passes the bend therein. whereupon the further forward motion of the thread finger causes its hooked end 7 2 to be swung laterally. engaging the loops of thread as shown in Figure 10. The button clamp then shifts the but-ton laterally, the work moving therewith, the cam 35 receiving its motion from the shaft 61 through suitable gearing shown at 95, so as to bring the other two holes of the button into the paths of motion of the sewing needles 7 as shown in Figure 10. These sewing needles 7 then pass downwardly through these other holes in the button, as shown in Figure 11, and the latch needle moves forwardly to take the thread loops a2 and b2 therefrom. which it 'is shown as just about to do in this figure. the thread loops a and I) previously formed being held on the shanlrof the latch needle by the thread finger 71 and back of the free end of the open latch 52. As the latch needle starts back with the two loops a2 and 722 in its hook, the'thread finger is retracted by the action of the cam 65, freeing the thread loops a and b, and permitting them to engage the latch 52 and move it into closed position, as indicated in Figure 6, whereupon further retraction of the latch needle causes these loops a and b to slip over the end of the latch needle and over the loops a2 and 62 in chain stitch formation as shown in Figure 7, the loops a2 and 62 being retained in the book 51 in the latch needle. On the next downward stroke of the sewing needles 7 the button clamp and cloth plate have been moved to present the first pair of holes in alinement therewith so that the next stitches are formed through'the holes wherein the first stitches were placed and in the stitching cycle the third loops of thread are then.

passed about the second loops of thread (12 and 62 in the same manner that the second loops of thread a2 and 62 were passed about the first loops of thread a and 7) as previously described. It will be seen, therefore, that the loops of threads formed on each sewing stroke by both of the stitching needles 7 are engaged by a single looper mechanism and the stitches completed in chain formation, the threads-of both stitches being int-erengaged and interlocked back of the button and on the back face of the work. The latch needle reciprocates once for each reciprocation of the sewing needles and is movable on one side only of the throat plate, always remaining beneath it.

Figures 13 and 14 show the back face of the work after the first and second thread loops respectively have been taken, while Figure 15 shows the appearance after the fourth set of loops have been taken. Figure 16 shows the general appearance of the back face of the work at the completion of the sewing operation, the loops being shown, somewhat loose, however, so that the position of the threads may be better followed. The forward face of the button after the completion of the sewing operation shows merely two lines of stitching 100 extending across the face of the button. It will be noted that the threads on the back face of the work engage over substantially the whole area bounded by the four sets of perforations through the work where the two sets of stitches have passed so this knotting being accomplished by passing the needle twice through the same hole in the button and which necessitates an extra stroke of the needle after the sewing stitches the time required to secure/the button is 'means for securing ill till) slightly less than one-half that required in machines as heretofore constructed. While the latch needle looper mechanism herein shown is particularly suitable when thread loops from a plurality of needles are to be i taken together, it also has certain. advantages when used with a single needle since it makes possible the use for sewing of'threads of a fineness or having other characteristics such astendency to twist or snarl which cannot be used satisfactorily with rotating or oscillating loopers heretofore commonly used. The attachment of a button by stitches arranged as hereinbefore described is not claimed hereinbut forms the subject matter of my divisional application Serial no. 614,070 for p buttons to work, filed May 28, 1932.

While it is usually preferable to employ a single looper mechanism for both needles, both for simplicity of the machine, and also in order to efi'ect the secure fixing of the button with a large area of engagement of the threads on the work, and to avoid danger of raveling should a thread become broken,

- and without the necessity of a tying needle stroke, it is quite possible to so attach the button that the two threads will be quite independent of each other, needle looper mechanisms cooperating with the two needles. 7 Such a construction .is shown in Figures 18 to 20. As there shown the two needles are fixed to the needle bar in lateral alinement with each other as shown in Figure 20 in which one needle only is shown as the other is directly behind. The looper mechanism then comprises the two latch needles and 111, both carried by a single looper actuating slide controlled in the same manner as the slide 56 shown in Figure 5. Between the two needles is shown positioned the guide block 115 having pointed rear ends 116 which act to open the latches of both needles on their forward stroke in the same manner that the portion 90 ofthe block 92 acts in the machine heretofore de scribed. Two looper fingers 120 and121 are employed, the finger 120 cooperating with the latch needle 110 and the finger 121 cooperating with the latch needle 111. These fingers are pivoted on a common pivot 122 to a slide such as shown at 69 in Figure 5 and each looper finger has a cam pin 123 riding in its angular slot 124 in a fixed guide plate using two latch amassein the same manner that the single looper finger is guided by the slot 73 in the plate 75 as shown in Figure 5.

p The sequence of operations is identical with that heretofore described, except that each of the latch needles takes the looper thread from one of the sewing needles only such movement. Where the button .is sewn by such a machine the stitches lie in two groups across the outer face of the button as shown at 1 10 in Figure 21, but in this caselying longitudinally of the machine instead of laterally thereof as is shown in Figure 17. These sets of stitches are independent of each other throu hout, lying in parallel relation back of the utton as well as across its face. They are shown at 141 in Figure 22 lying in parallel relation on the back face of the work and in chain stitch formation. Tn Figure 23 one of the latch needles as 110 and 111 is shown as holding one of the thread loops of the chain stitch, it being noted that each of these latch needles takes but a single loop from one needle rather than two loops from both needles as in the form of machine first described.

From the foregoing description of certain machines adapted to attach buttons in accordance with this invention and the particular stitching by which'this attachment is effected, it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

T claim 1. Tu combination, means for holding a four holebutton and work in position for attachin the button to the work, and means for attac ingthe button to the work by two threads only, each thread passing through holes in the button, said attaching means including means vfor locking said threads together.

2. In combination, means for holding a four hole button and work in position for attaching the button to the work, means for attaching the button to the work by two threads only, each thread passing through a pair of holes in the button, said attaching means including means for locking said threads together on the back face ofthe work. v

3. In combination, means for holding a four hole button: and Work in position for attaching the button to the work, and means for attaching the button to the work by two threads only, one thread passing through one pair of holes in the button and the other thread passing through the other pair of holes in the button, said attaching means including means for locking. said threads together back of the button.

4. In combination, means for holding a four hole button and work in position for attaching a button to the work, a pair of needles, means cooperating with said needles to form chain stitches, and means for relatively moving said needles and holding means to r cause each of said needles to pass alternately through the holes of a pair in the button and through the work and to lay the stitches in two parallel sets over the face of the button.

5. In combination, means for holding a four hole button and work in position for attaching the button to the work, a pair of needles, means for relatively moving said needles and holding means to cause each of said needles to pass alternately through the holes of a pair in the button and through the work, and form a loop of thread at each sewing stroke, and a single mechanism for passing both loops as formed through the pair of previously formed loops in chain stitch formation.

8. In combination, a sewing needle, means for reciprocating said needle, a latch needle, means for reciprocating said latch needle once for each reciprocation of said sewing needle to take thread loops from said sewing needle in one position only thereof, and a thread finger cooperating with said latch needle to cause each loop as it is taken by said latch needle to be passed through'the preceding loop in chain stitch formation.

7. In combination, a throat plate, a sewing needle reciprocable through said throat plate, a latch needle movable on one side only of said throat plate to take successive loops of thread from said sewing needle, and a thread finger cooperatin with said latch needle to cause each loop ta en by said latch needle to be passed through the preceding loop in chain stitch formation.

8. In combination, a plurality of needles each arranged to form successive loops of thread, and means including a single latch needle for taking the loops as formed by all them throu h the the needles and passing b y said nee les in loops previously forme chain stitch formation.

9. In combination, a pair of sewing needles movable together each to form successive loops of thread, a latch needle axially movable past the paths of said sewing needles in position to take and draw back the loops of threads therefrom as it is moved away therefrom, and means acting to hold'the 100 s so taken as said latch needle moves to ta e and to release said first mentioned loops to permit them to close the latch and to slip off from said latchneedle about said next loops as said next loops are drawn back by said latch needle.

10. In combination, means for holding a four hole button and work in position forpass therethrough, means for relatively moving said holding means and needles to cause needle strokes of each needle to pass through two holes of the button alternately, a latch needle movable beneath the work past the paths of said sewing needles in position to take and draw back the loops of thread therefrom as it is moved away therefrom, and means acting to hold the loops so taken as said latch needle is moved to take the next loops formed by said sewing needles and then to release said first mentioned loops to 'permit them to close the latch of said latch needle and to slip off therefrom about said next formed loops as said next formed loops are drawn back by said latch needle.

11. In combination, means for holding a four hole button and work in position for at- V taching a button to the work, a pair of neeof said needles to pass alternately through a.

pair of holes in the button and through the work and'to lay the stitches in two parallel sets over the face of and back of the button.

12. In combination, means for holding a four hole button and work in position for attaching the button to the work, a pair of needles, means for relatively moving said needles and holding means to cause each of said needles to pass alternately through the holes of a pair in the button and through thework and form a loop of thread at each sewing stroke, a member movable in time with said needles, and a pair of looptakers carried by said member, each cooperating with oneof said needles to form stitches, to I secure the button to the work by two sets of stitches lying, in parallel relation over the face of and back of the button.

13. In combination, means for holding a four hole button and work in position for attaching the button to the work, a pair of sewing needles arranged inparallel relation and spaced substantially equal to the spacing of pairs of holes in the'button, means for relatively movin said needles and holding means laterally of t e plane of the needles to cause each of said needles to pass alternately through the. holes of a pair in the button and through the work on thein sewing strokes and to form a loop of sewing thread at each stroke, apair of latch needles beneath the work, means for moving said latch needles ments cooperating with said latch needles to engage successively formed loops of the sewing threads in chain stitch formation.

14. In combination, means for holding a four hole button and work in attaching the button to the wor a pair of sewing needles arranged in parallel relation and spaced substantially equal to the spacing of pairs of holes in the button, a member movable laterally of the plane of the needle, a pair of latch needles carried by'saidmemher in position to take loops of thread from said sewing needles back of the work, a thread finger cooperating with each latch needle to retain thereon each thread loop taken until after the taking of a subsequent loop and then to release the retained loop to pass over the subsequent loop in chain stitch formation,

and means for actuating said fingers.

15. lln combination, means for holding a four hole'but-ton and workin position for attaching the button to the work, a pair of sewing needles arranged in parallel relation and spaced substantially equal to the spacing of pairs of holes in the button, a member movable laterally of the plane of the needles, a pair of latch needles carried by said member in position to take loops of thread from said osition for sewing needles back of the work, a thread finger cooperating with each latch needle to retain thereon each thread loop taken until after the taking of a subsequent loop and then to release the retained loop to pass over the subsequent loop in chain stitch formation, means for actuating said fingers, and means for opening the latches of said latch needles as they are advanced to take thread loops from said sewing needles.

16. lln combination, means for holding a four h-ole button and work in position for attaching the button to the work, means for simultaneously passing a pair of threads each through apair of holes in the button and through the work, and mechanism cooperating with said means forla-ying the threads in two separate groups of stitches lyingin parallel relation over the face of and back of the button.

17. lln combination, means for holding a four hole button and work in position for attaching the button to the work, means for simultaneously passing a pair of threads each through a pair of holes in the button and through the work, and mechanism cooperating with said means for laying the threads in two separate groups of stitches lying in parallel relation over the face of the button and the back face of the work. 7

In testimony whereof l have aiiixed my signature.

ROBERT L. LYUNS. 

